News Archive - 2011

International Consortium for future pandemics

The International Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Consortium (ISARIC) aims to prepare for next flu pandemic

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of more than twenty international organisations taking part in a new global consortium organized to prepare clinical research for future influenza pandemics or other rapidly emerging public health threats.

The mystery behind the building of muscle

Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered two proteins that are essential for the fusion of muscle cells to build muscle fibres. Their discovery might help us better understand and treat illnesses such as muscle-wasting disorders and diseases of bone over-growth, in which cellular fusion is an important feature.

European Research Council Award to Institute Researcher

A Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute researcher has been recognized in a pan-Europe award scheme for researchers at the early stages of their career. Dr Eleftheria Zeggini was awarded a grant of €1.5 million to support her research into the genetics of common disease in humans.

Celebrating the Wellcome Trust's 75th Anniversary

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is giving local students the opportunity to explore genome research

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Wellcome Trust, here at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute our Public Engagement team and our researchers are giving local students the opportunity to explore the Institute's research.

From gene to function

Genome-wide study into new gene functions in the formation of platelets

In a study into the genetics of blood cell formation, researchers have identified 68 regions of the genome that affect the size and number of platelets. Platelets are small cells that circulate in the blood and are key to the processes of blood clotting and wound healing.

Malaria's Achilles' heel revealed?

Researchers have today (9 November 2011) revealed a key discovery in understanding how the most deadly species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, invades human red blood cells. Using a technique developed at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, they have found that the parasite relies on a single receptor on the red blood cell's surface to invade, offering an exciting new focus for vaccine development.

Researchers discover genes involved in colorectal cancer

A jumping gene named Sleeping Beauty plays vital role in investigating cancer pathway

A study published today used the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to profile the repertoire of genes that can drive colorectal cancer, identifying many more than previously thought. Around one third of these genes are mutated in human cancer, which provides strong evidence that they are driver mutations in human tumours.

Different paths to drug resistance in Leishmania

Parasite genomes speak of evolution by changes in gene, region and chromosome number, not by mutation in genes

Two remarkable discoveries were today (28/10/2011) revealed by researchers into genome analysis of Leishmania parasites. These results uncovered a surprising level of variation at the genome structure level.

Sanger Institute researcher honoured by EMBO

Professor Gordon Dougan becomes an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization

Election as an EMBO Member is a tribute to the significant contribution made to science by a researcher. The organization elects new members annually on the basis of scientific excellence across Europe and represents a broad cross-section of researchers from molecular biology and plant sciences, to neuroscience, computational neurobiology and cellular immunology.